Discworld Noir

Discworld Noir is a computer game based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld comic fantasy novels, and unlike the previous Discworld games is both an example and parody of the noir genre. The game was developed by Perfect Entertainment and published by GT Interactive. It was released for Microsoft Windows and the Sony PlayStation in 1999. Pratchett was consulted on the story and wrote some of the dialogue; he was credited in-game for causing "far too much interference." As it is a film noir parody, the game's protagonist Lewton frequently engages in hard-boiled soliloquy, or monologue.

The game utilizes a 2D game engine using pre-rendered characters displayed against pre-rendered backgrounds. Only the main character Lewton is using a polygonal model while residing in a walking or standing pose. The game was only released in Europe, and the development team no longer exists. As a result, the game, which suffered from several minor bugs, was not patched, and like many older games, has difficulty running on more modern platforms.

The main character is Lewton, the Discworld's first and only private investigator, and former member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. His investigation of a brutal murder gets him involved in a sinister plot. The game's story line is a completely original creation, unlike the previous Discworld games, two of which were based on particular novels, and one of which was a mixture of elements from several. It is set in Ankh-Morpork, the largest city on the Discworld.

The game features many new characters and locales, which do not appear in the Discworld books. However, as the game is set in Ankh-Morpork, characters and locales from the books also appear, such as the Unseen University, the Dysk Theatre, Pseudopolis Yard, the City Watch and eccentric inventor Leonard da Quirm. The game's manual includes an introduction written by Discworld creator Terry Pratchett.

None of the characters created for the game have explicitly been introduced into the Discworld novels, although Neoldian, the blacksmith of the gods and forger of the Golden Falchion (a major plot element in the game) may be the unnamed blacksmith god who appears in The Last Hero.

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The majority of the game's characters, including Lewton, Nobby, Ilsa and Carlotta, are voiced by Rob Brydon and Kate Robbins, while Robert Llewellyn and Nigel Planer voice the rest. Rob Lord, the game's audio director is also credited as providing additional voices. Terry Pratchett himself provided the voice of Samuel Vimes.

Discworld Noir makes obscure references to many noir films, in particular the noted Humphrey Bogart films Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. Some of the references include:

Lewton is named after horror-noir producer Val Lewton. Josh Kirby's Discworld Noir cover illustration features a wolf posed in a similar manner to the cat on the cover of the Lewton film Cat People.

The Tsortese Falchion is a parody of the Maltese Falcon.

The character of Mundy may be a reference to Thursby in The Maltese Falcon. Both die (and 'Thursby' almost sounds like 'Thursday').

Al Khali and Jasper Horst are direct parodies of two characters from The Maltese Falcon. Joel Cairo, played by Peter Lorre, is short in stature, named after a city and turns out to be the messenger for a huge man named Casper Gutman. In Noir, Al Khali is a dwarf named after an equally sandy city, and the lackey of a huge troll by the name of Jasper Horst. Gutman is rather rotund and to reflect this, Horst refers to the troll's shape ('Horst' being a geological term for a large outcrop of rock between two parallel faults. Curiously, this description also reflects his role in the game's storyline). Horst uses lines directly taken from Gutman's dialogue in The Maltese Falcon. The way Lewton is followed by Al Khali is a reference to another character, Wilmer.

The troll "Mount" Malachite is extremely similar to the strong but slow witted Moose Malloy in Farewell, My Lovely, and Noir's "Therma" subplot is almost identical to the double identity sub-plot found in the film.

Noir's ending is an homage to Casablanca's, but with Gaspode substituted for the chief of police.

Regin the dwarf coachman combines elements of three of the murder victims found in The Big Sleep. His employer, the wheelchair bound Count von Überwald, is based on the wheelchair bound General Sternwood in the same film.

The line, "You know how to howl don't you, Lewton? You just pull your jaws apart and blow." is a reference to a line in To Have and Have Not, where Lauren Bacall says to Bogart, "You know how to whistle, don't you sweetheart? You just press your lips together and blow."

The vampire pianist Samael is named after Sam, the pianist from Casablanca.Lewton: Play it again, Sam.Samael: You know what? No one's ever going to believe you said that.</br>Despite being famously attributed to it, the line "Play it again, Sam." was never actually said in Casablanca.

Ilsa Varberg is named after Ingrid Bergmans character Ilsa Lund from Casablanca. Lund and Varberg are also both cities in Sweden, Ingrid Bergman's home country.

The encounter with Vimes and Nobby in Mundy's bedroom mirrors when the two detectives enter Sam Spade's apartment in The Maltese Falcon.

Satrap's use of the phrase "The stars are right!" is a reference to Lovecraftian literature. Nylonathotep, the Laddering Horror, is a parody of Lovecraft's Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos.

Lovecraft's fictitious occult text the Necronomicon, or book of the dead, is similarly parodied in the Necrotelecomnicon, which more or less translates to "phone book of the dead."

In the scene where Lewton asks Satrap, if he had a spell that would destroy all life, whether he would use it or not, the dialogue (with a few changes) mirrors the scene in the 1975 Doctor Who story "Genesis Of The Daleks" when the Fourth Doctor asks Davros if he would use a virus that would destroy all life.

In the temple of small gods, Lewton notes to Malaclypse that the "Brethern of the Ebon Night" have been killed by dragon. This is of course a reference to Guards! Guards!.

The series of murders based upon theatrical plays is a direct parody of the film Theatre of Blood, in which the murders are all based upon works by Shakespeare.

The Guild of Archaeologists has many references to Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, including a buxom tomb excavator named Laredo Cronk.

Sam Vimes is the commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. Vimes never really got on with Lewton while he was a member of the Watch, and has despised Lewton since he was caught taking a bribe, something Vimes has very strong views about. In a departure from the novels, the Vimes of the game is unprofessional and vindictive, determined to fit the crimes to Lewton.

Death

The familiar Grim Reaper-style character that appears in almost every Discword novel. Death comes to take the Count's soul away later in the game and also to take an evil wizard's soul away when Lewton fights him off the Observatory roof. The only character who persists in constantly breaking the fourth wall by referencing, amongst other things, narrative causality, the gangster stereotype, and the freeform flow of the game itself.

The Patrician

The Patrician is only briefly heard through the locked double-doors of the Oblong Office. He talks to Sam Vimes and is mentioned throughout the game several times.

Leonard da Quirm

A genius and inventor who is locked up in the Palace Cells for his own safety or, rather, for that of the rest of civilisation, given how dangerous some of his inventions have been. Because food, lodgings, peace and quiet and all the raw materials he needs are provided for free, Leonard doesn't mind his incarceration at all. The Patrician occasionally finds uses for his creativity and some of his creations. Lewton encounters him via a secret doorway in his prison cell.

Gaspode

The famous talking dog of Ankh-Morpork. Gaspode teaches Lewton how to use his werewolf abilities. He also appears in a number of Discworld novels including Men at Arms and The Truth.

This is the full list of characters in the game. They are noted in the rough order of which they appear in the game.

Lewton - the protagonist of the game; Lewton is a cynical and bitter private detective who later becomes infected with lycanthropy. Formerly a member of the Watch, he was fired by Vimes for accepting a bribe during a period of depression following the departure of his lover, Ilsa. After spending years as a drunkard and wallowing in depression, he became the Discworld's first Private Investigator; partially so he can afford to pay his bar tab and rent, but mainly because investigation is one of his only talents.

Carlotta Von Überwald - a rich woman who hires Lewton at the beginning of the game to track someone down; she also goes by the name of 'Therma', given to her by her troll foster parents.

Mr Scoplett - the first mate on the Milka; he picked up a bad case of Philosophy in Ephebe, which is a bit of a drawback when you are supposed to be navigating. One minute you are fine, the next you are wondering if anything can be truly said to exist.

Captain Jenkins - the captain on the Milka; bitter and unhelpful. Desires a harem of exotic dancers called 'Chantelle'.

Malachite - an unintelligent troll of few words, sent by Jasper Horst to hinder events unfolding.

Corporal Nobby Nobbs - the sneaky, lazy, thieving Watchman still retains his friendship with Lewton, and occasionally offers good advice and actually does some work.

Mankin - a half-elf bartender who doesn't appreciate people asking lots of questions.

Sapphire - a troll singer at The Octarine Parrot, blackmailing Therma along with Regin.

Samael - owner of Café Ankh and an accomplished pianist. Presumably a black ribboner as he is a vampire.

Ilsa Varberg - an ex-lover of Lewton who is back in town with her husband.

Al Khali - a dwarf named after a city working for Jasper Horst; he is first discovered snooping through the drawers of Lewton's desk, and appears in Lewton's office later armed with an axe. Investigation suggests a theory that he is possibly named after Al Khali due to the unrelenting winds.

Two Conkers - Ilsa's lover; a foreigner from the Counterweight Continent visiting after Cohen's invasion.

Malachite was murdered with a crowbar on the rooftops above Salis and Phedre as part of the summoning ritual.

Al Khali was dragged to his death by Anu-Anu as part of the summoning ritual.

Count Henning Von Überwald died of his long illness after the Disc-quake caused by the appearance of Nylonathatep.

Mundy was murdered while Lewton is in the same room (Lewton however is unconscious) as part of the summoning ritual.

Warb was killed by a giant piece of falling rock in the Disc-quake under The Dysk Theatre.

Satrap was thrown from the top of the Unseen University Observatory by Lewton.

Kondo was killed by Lewton in the secret Sanctuary of Anu-Anu.

Mooncalf climbed to the top of the Temple of Small Gods and was struck by lightning, due to the wrath of the gods after renouncing his faith.

Regin died while driving the carriage because he was poisoned by an asp as part of the summoning ritual.

Jasper Horst was killed by Lewton to save Carlotta.

Saipha drowned in a vat of wine by Anu Anu as part of the summoning ritual.

Mathom poisioned by Anu Anu as part of the summoning ritual.

Gamin strangled by Anu Anu as part of the summoning ritual.

Thespian eaten by Anu Anu as part of the summoning ritual. Often it is presumed that Mr. Hong, the fish bar owner was eaten. However, further investigation suggests that the thespian who missed his role in a play (according to Privitier) was the victim who was eaten, suggesting that Anu Anu actually used the fish bar fryers after the mysterious incident which befell the fish bar in the first place.